What you need to know before heading to the polls on Tuesday

Monday

Mar 17, 2014 at 10:45 PMMar 17, 2014 at 10:57 PM

Chris Kaergard Journal Star political reporter @ChrisKaergard

PEORIA — Voters across Illinois face a plethora of choices on their ballots in the primary election today, from nominating candidates for governor to picking a school board member and deciding whether or not to raise their taxes.

Here’s a look at some important things to know before stepping foot in your polling place:

Where do I vote?

If you’re not sure where your polling place is, you can check here: http://www.elections.il.gov/votinginformation/registrationlookup.aspx

When can I vote?

Voting stations are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Primary turnout traditionally has been low — with local officials particularly concerned about that this year — but among new voters in 2014 are 17-year-olds who will turn 18 before the November election. The city of Peoria and Peoria County have seen small but significant numbers of those teens registering so far this year.

What are the big races?

Both Republicans and Democrats will choose a nominee for governor. On the GOP side, state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, businessman Bruce Rauner and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford are competing for the nomination. Incumbent Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn is being challenged by former Chicago CeaseFire director Tio Hardiman in a lower-key race.

In Peoria County: All voters will get to weigh in on whether to add a 1 percent sales tax to many goods to help finance school facilities.

Residents of Peoria School District 150 who live in District 3 — north of Forrest Hill Avenue — will choose between re-electing incumbent Laura Petelle to a second five-year term or voting for Sue Wolstenholm, who has withdrawn from the race but remains on the ballot. If Wolstenholm wins, the School Board would select someone to fill the seat for a one-year term until a new election can be held.

In Woodford County: Republicans face a three-way primary for a nominee for sheriff — tantamount to election in the GOP-leaning territory — between Craig Baner, Terry Glaub and Matt Smith. There are also two competitive County Board nomination contests — Districts 1 and 3 — where Republicans will choose two of three candidates to advance to the fall election.

In Tazewell County: Republicans living in County Board District 2 will choose three of four candidates to move on to the fall election.

Elsewhere: In Stark County, three men are vying to be the county’s next resident circuit judge. Appointed Judge Tom Keith is running against lawyers Bruce Fehrenbacher and Robert Rennick Jr. for the Republican nod for the post, a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stuart Borden.

Do you have to pick a party?

Technically not. If there are referenda on the ballot — or, in the case of Peoria District 150, a School Board race — voters can pick a non-partisan ballot.

Republicans and Democrats also will vote in those races, though. And most people who turn out in a primary pick one party or another to vote for.

A voter can decide which party ballot to select at his or her polling place, and may change parties from election to election if they choose.

Where do you get results?

After the polls close at 7 p.m., voting machines have to be transported back to election authorities — county clerk offices or the Peoria City Election Commission — before counts of ballots cast on election day can begin. Early results are often available by 8 p.m., and continuously updated results will be available online at pjstar.com for high-profile contests.

Chris Kaergard can be reached at 686-3135 or ckaergard@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard. The Associated Press also contributed to this article.